Have you ever stopped to think about the incredible, unbelievable, and sometimes downright bizarre facts that make up our world? For sure, there are countless astonishing truths that defy our expectations.
These 29 facts are just a few examples of the incredible and often unbelievable truths that exist in our world. That sound fake, but are actually true facts.
1. Banyan Tree Bigger Than Walmart
The Banyan Tree near Kolkata, India covers over 14,000 square meters compared to Walmart’s average store size of around 9,750 square meters.
This enormous tree, known as the Great Banyan Tree, has a canopy made up of 3,511 aerial prop roots that connect to the earth. It earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s widest tree.
2. Chicago City Raised over a Foot
The city of Chicago underwent a massive infrastructure project in the 1850s and 1860s, where the city was literally raised by over a foot to improve drainage and stormwater management.
Known as the “Great Chicago Fireproofing” project, it involved constructing a new foundation for the city.
3. Population-Packed Bangladesh
Bangladesh has a higher population than Russia, with over 172 million people compared to Russia’s population of around 145 million.
Despite Bangladesh being much smaller in size than Russia, it has a much higher population density, with 1,265 people per square kilometer compared to Russia’s 9 people per square kilometer (ref).
4. Con Man Sold the Eiffel Tower (Almost Twice)
The Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, was almost sold not once, but twice by a notorious con man named Gustave Lustig.
Lustig managed to sell the Eiffel Tower to a French businessman, who later realized he had been duped and sold the tower back to the city of Paris.
5. Trees Talk With Each Other
Trees communicate with each other via underground fungal networks known as mycorrhizae, which connect the roots of different plants together.
This network enables them to share nutrients and even warnings about predators or environmental threats.
6. This Country Issued Pokemon & Star Wars Coins
Niue, a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, has gained fame for issuing legal tender coins featuring characters from popular culture, including Pokémon and Star Wars.
While primarily sought after by collectors, these coins are legal tender in Niue, meaning they can be used for transactions within the country.
7. Millions of Balloons in the Sky in Ohio
In 1986, two people died during a charity event in Cleveland, Ohio because 1.5 million balloons were launched into the sky: The balloons caused massive problems and hampered a search for two boaters who later drowned.
8. Heroin Was Once Used to Treat Children’s Coughs
Heroin was once marketed by Bayer as a safe and effective treatment for children’s coughs.
It was banned in the United States in 1924 due to widespread abuse and addiction because it was often prescribed for children, who were more susceptible to its addictive effects and more likely to develop long-term dependence.
9. Man Received the Highest Honor of Service From Both the Allies & Axis in World War II
Juan Pujol García, also known as Garbo, was a Spanish double agent who worked for the British during World War II.
He provided the Germans with false information while secretly working for the Allies. He received both the Iron Cross from the Germans and the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) from the British.
10. Harvard University was Founded Before Calculus was Discovered
Harvard University was founded in 1636, making it the oldest institution of higher education in the US.
Calculus, on the other hand, was developed by Sir Isaac Newton in the late 1600s, over 50 years after Harvard’s founding.
11. An Average Person Produces 500 to 1,500 Milliliters of Gas Per Day
A person produces about 500 to 1500 milliliters (roughly 2 to 6 cups) of gas per day, which is passed in 10 to 20 separate “toots” or farts (ref).
The reason is due to the friendly bacteria living in your colon, which are hard at work breaking down and digesting much of the food you eat.
12. Having 6 Fingers is a Dominant Trait, but the Genes are Rare
Polydactyly, the condition of having extra fingers, is a dominant genetic trait, meaning that if an individual inherits the gene, they will likely express the trait. However, the genes responsible for polydactyly are relatively rare in the human population.
13. Medically Inspired Line in Michael Jackson Song
In the Michael Jackson song “Smooth Criminal,” the line “Annie are you ok?” is medically inspired. The line is a reference to CPR training, where the doll used is named Annie.
14. Goats Have Accents, Just Like Us
Goats have unique vocal patterns that are influenced by their environment. These include the sounds they make to communicate with other goats in their herd or to alert others to potential threats.
15. Cumulus Clouds are Much Heavier Than They Appear
Cumulus clouds, which are commonly seen as puffy white clouds, are surprisingly massive and can weigh around 1.1 million pounds (500,000 kilograms). This is due to the large volume of water droplets and air that they contain.
16. Galileo was Alive When Harvard University was Established
Galileo Galilei passed away on January 8, 1642, at the age of 77, after a prolonged illness. Harvard College, on the other hand, was founded in 1636, eight years before Galileo’s death.
17. Cheetahs Can’t Roar, They Can Only Meow, Like House Cats
Cheetahs are unable to roar like other big cats because they have a vocal anatomy that is more similar to that of domestic cats, which can only meow.
This is due to the cheetah’s smaller laryngeal prominence and a different arrangement of the vocal folds.
18. World’s 16 Largest Ships Emit More Sulfur Than 800 Million Cars
The 16 largest ships in the world emit more sulfur pollution than 800 million cars combined. This is due to the use of heavy fuel oil by these massive container ships, which contain high levels of sulfur and other pollutants that contribute to air pollution and acid rain when released into the atmosphere.
19. Switzerland Has Accidentally Invaded Liechtenstein Three Times in the Last 50 Years
Switzerland has accidentally invaded Liechtenstein on three separate occasions in the last 50 years, with the most recent incident occurring in 2007 when a company of 171 Swiss soldiers mistakenly entered Liechtenstein due to bad weather conditions.
20. Ugly Thoughts
Even if 99% of Earth’s population thought you were unattractive, 76 million people would still find you attractive: This is based on the concept of the “average” person.
21. Near-Extinction of Sparrows in China
One day Mao Zedong saw a sparrow eating grain. Thinking that the sparrows were hurting China’s grain supply, he and the Communist Party launched the Four Pests Campaign.
The campaign led to the almost-extinction of sparrows in China.
22. Most Children Born from One Mom
The record for most children born to one mother is 69, to the wife of Feodor Vassilyev. Valentina Vassilyeva gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets.
23. Birth Gap
The longest time between two twins being born is 87 days apart: This is a recorded instance of twins being born with a significant time gap between them.
24. Obese People Can Survive with Starvation
A morbidly obese person can survive by only drinking water without any sickness or feeling ill (under close control). There have been studies on prolonged fasting for therapeutic purposes (ref).
25. Lincoln Assassination Eyewitness Appeared on a Game Show
An 95-year-old eyewitness to Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theater appeared as a contestant on the nationally televised game show, “I’ve Got a Secret.” This is a documented instance of an eyewitness sharing their story on national television.
26. The Great Barrier Reef is the Largest Living Structure on Earth
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth, spanning over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) off the coast of Australia, making it visible from space.
This massive coral reef system is home to an incredible array of marine life, including over 1,500 species of fish, 600 species of coral, and many other creatures.
27. Eternal Youth of Turritopsis dohrnii
Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the “immortal jellyfish,” has the ability to revert back to its polyp stage when damaged or stressed.
This process, known as transdifferentiation, has garnered scientific interest for understanding and reversing aging processes in organisms.
28. Shortest War in History
The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after just 38 minutes of fighting.
29. Longest Recorded Flight of a Chicken is 13 Seconds
The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds, a feat that has been documented and verified (ref). This impressive flight duration is due to the chicken’s agility and ability to defy gravity, if only briefly, before landing safely back on the ground.
From the incredible feats of nature to the remarkable achievements of humans, we’ve been reminded that the world is full of surprises and that the truth can be both fascinating and astonishing.
Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.
